Separable fastener



March 3, 1936. w RlEcKEN 2,032,438

SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed May 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllllll INVENTOR W\LL\AM E. R ECKE N.

ATTORNEY March 3, 1936. E, RECKEN 2,032,438

SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed May 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F3; .11. Fl .15?

INVENTOR WILUAM E. RHECKEN.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1936 v SEPABABLE FASTENER William E. Riecken, Leonia, N. 1., assignor to Standard Products Corporation, New York,

App ication May 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,356 1 21 Claims.

This invention relates to separable fasteners. In some of its aspects, the invention to be described will be understood to have application in relations other than where specific elements to be illustrated are used. In the specific description, the invention is illustrated as applied in connection with that type of the fastener commonly known as the zipper. In such a fasener, customary, but not necessary, construction includes a plurality of identically constructed elements, secured to the edges of adjacent. flexible tapes which define the margins of an opening to'be opened and closed by the fastener. Received over these elements, in order to facilitate the 5 manipulation of the several elements to engage;- ment in interlocked relationship; and separation from that relationship, is a slide. -It is an object of the invention to provide a slide for this purpose which is simple in its construction, and lends itself easily and effectively to manufacture from sheet metal. In this relation, "a feature of a specific form of the slide is that it may be laid out and assembled substantially entirely by automatic machinery. In the specific form of slideiust mentioned,

a plurality of stampings from sheet metal are' used. Each of two of the stampings is shaped or otherwise formed to define in itself a distinct channel through which the interlocking elements are to move as the slide travels relatively along the margins of the opening. These channeldefining sections may be formed separately and distinctly; when united, however, and by the very manner of union, they are caused to define a i-single unitary and complete slider, in which a passage is defined, by the conjunction of the sections, through which passage, the elements, when interlocked, may pass.

Each channel-defining section includes a wall D from which extends a pair of -wings., The walls of the sections are brought together and are so' formed and secured that the channels defined by the sections merge into a single passageway. For securing together the walls, and, therefore, the

i sections, one of the walls may have, as an integral part thereof, prongs which are extended to engage around the wall of the other section.

To position, in association with slides useful for the purpose indicated, means for carrying a pull-piece for facilitating the manipulation of the slide, ,a plate is positioned between the sections when they are brought together. By the manner in which the sections are united, this plate also is bound into the assembly and is fixedly retained.

This plate, by its formation, or by its cooperation with the wings of the sections, functions as means for retaining a pull-piece. Also, this plate lends to the slide, as a whole, additional rigidity,

' strengthening a portion of the slide against which considerable force is applied during use of the fastener. The plate and its associated walls and prongs form the entering wedge for separating the interlocked elements.

In fasteners of this general character, in which a slide manipulates the elements to interlocked and separated relation, to make the device practical for general application, complete removal of the slide from the margins of the openings, at the'fully closed position, is prevented. In the structure here described, stop elements, positioned on one or both of the margins, are constructed to engage with one or more of the wings. The wings at their edges may have provided flanges to assist in defining the channels. The

abutment of the stop element may be with such a flange which, in one embodiment, is cut away so that the stop element may enter within the particular channel. The cutaway portion may be dimensioned so that the slide will be brought to a complete halt whenthe stop is housed substantially out of view between the wings.

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter be set forth, or will be apparent from the desci'iption and the drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular constructionor arrangement of parts, or to any particular appli: cation of such construction or to any specific manner of use, or to any of various details herein shown and described. as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, the practical embodiment herein illustrated, and described merely showing one of various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

' On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same partsthroughout, and. in which an illustrated construction is disclosed;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an arrangement em-- bodying the invention in which a separable fastener is applied to an opening;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in perspective, illustrating the manner in which slide and stop elements cooperate at fully closed position;

Rig. 3. .is a perspective view of the slide, adetail of the embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of dissociated elements of the slide;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, illustrating the manner in which one of the channel-defining sections and the plate are assembled before the final associations;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the slide;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view, on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view, on the line |n '|o of Fig. 9; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are plan views of blanks for the formation of the channel sections.

In Fig. 1, an opening I8 is shown tohave associated with its margins l2 and I4, a separable fastener l6. The margins may be defined by flexible tapes I8 having beaded edges 20' upon which are secured interlocking elements 22. The elements onboth tapes, in this particular case, are shown to be identical in construction. Each element includes a body portion 24 having jaws 26 received and clamped over a beaded edge 28. The projecting end of each element has extending from one face a rounded nub 28, while in the other face is formed a complementary recess 38. In the customary operation of such fasteners, nubs 28 of elements on one tape seat within recesses 38 of staggeredlyopposed elements on the other tape.

In this case, a stop 32 at full open position is engaged with both tapes. Prongs 34 extending from the stop and through the tapes retain the tapes against separation from each other at that position when slide 36 moves to fully opened position and separates all the elements. The stop, engaging with the slide for that purpose, prevents its further movement.

At fully closed position, one'or a pair of stops 38 are provided. Where a pair is used, one is stationed on each tape. Each stop is secured to the beaded edge in any preferred manner so as to provide an abutment 48 which extends beyond the extremities of elements 22. The stops, for this purpose, may be of a piece of flat metal, bent into a. U-shape, the arms of the U being engaged over the beaded edge. One or both of the arms may be made long enough to form an abutment 48.

The slide 36 here illustrated is made up from a plurality of stampings, two of which are used to define channels for the reception of elements 22. Blanks 42 and 44 may be stamped out as a part of the stages of manufacture of these elements. Blank 42, as seen from Figs. 11 and 12, is substantially similar to blank 44 except that, with the completion of cutting out blank 44, it includes prongs 46 and 48 in addition to the metal of blank 42. These prongs are, by the method of formation, left in a state of separation from wall 58 of the blank so that the blank may be worked into the form shown in Fig. 6.

Both blanks are, by automatic machinery or in any other desired manner, bent over so that, with respect to their intermediate wall portions 58 and 52, wings 54 and 56 will extend away substantially in parallel relationship, and preferably in planes substantially at right angles to walls 46 and 48. When so arranged, wings and walls deflne channels 58 and 68. At least along the wings, at certain portions in the extent of their edges, the metal is bent or reflexed to bring the opposed metallic edge portions into a position where they are directed toward each other. The portions may be in the nature of flanges 62 and 64. These flanges, or similar means, thus substantially close the channels at the sides of the slides, with the exception of slits 66, provided by the spaced-apart edges of the flanges so that the tapes may extend into the channels. The flanges are required at the point where the channels merge into the single passage 68. This, as can be seen from the drawings, is immediately beyond the separating wall 18 produced in the manner to be described.

The flanges, when the slide is positioned as in Figs. 1 and 2, rest immediately over tapes I8 upon which the slide is guided. The flanges engage the inner faces I2 of the elements and thus drive the elements toward eachother so that nubs 28 will be cammed into position to enter their related recesses 38. As can be seen from the drawings, the flanges are formed so that a pair of flanges 62 and 64 converge toward each other substantially from points immediately adjacent the terminus of each of the channels 58 and 68 to the merged single passage 68.

The stopping of the slide at fully closed position may be effected by the engagement of the forward edge or face or faces 14 of one or more of these flanges with an abutment or abutments 48. In one type of slide, designed to give a more workmanlike appearance to the entire arrangement when the fastener is completely closed, flanges 62 and 64 terminate short of the complete divergence of channels 58 and 68. In fact, as shown in Fig. 9, the forward faces 14 are substantially at the same position, as projected on the longitudinal center-line of the slide, as the entering face of wall 18. Stops 38 are thus enabled to move into the slide, in which case the abutments will engage with flange faces 14 when the stops are substantially or completely housed within channels 58 or 68, as shown in Fig. 2.

Sections 16 and 18, that is, the members formed by bending blanks 42 and 44 into the forms shown in Figs. 4 and 6, are united by bringing prongs 46 and 48 immediately around wall 52, and then bending the prongs to engage flrmly against the inner face of that wall. The sections will then be bound firmly together, wall portions 58 and 52, and the binding prongs, defining separating wall I8. As shown in Fig. 2, wall 18 acts, as the slide moves to open the fastener, to drive elements 22 into separated relationship. Also a pair of wings 54 and 56 cooperate to deflne a plate substantially effectively in a single plane, as seen from Figs. 3, 8 and 10.

A plate 88 may be assembled with sections 16 and 18 in order to stiffen and rigidlfy the entire arrangement. At the same time, this plate may be utilized to provide means for retention of a pull-piece 82. Plate 88, as shown, is provided with a plurality of notches 84, 86 and 88. Notches 84 and 86 are dimensioned and arranged so that prongs 46 and 48, when bent as shown in Fig. 7, may be extended through and set within them. By this construction, provision is made for the reception of plate 88 between walls 58 and 52 in the flnal assembly. Then, when the prongs are bent and engaged around wall 50, plate 8ll also will be retained, firmly and fixedly associated with the slide.

Notch 88, by this arrangement of the plate, is positioned in relation to top wings 54 and 56 to form with those wings what is, in fact, a slot. In assembling plate 88, pull-piece 82 is first slid over projecting end 88 of the plate by bringing into registry with that end an opening 92 cut through, or formed by slotting, the pull-piece.

Then the plate is secured into its relationship to v the plate, in place of notch 88. In such case, the

pull-piece would have opening 82 boundedby a pair of prongs for reception within the slot, the

location of the prongs being accomplished by any suitable method or means, as by bending them out of and then into alignment when inserting them, and after they have been inserted, into the opening.

The pull-piece, in either case, may be permitted movement relatively to the plate, and, therefore, to the slide, in accordance with the length of the opening provided by notch 88.

Projecting end 00 may be extended within slot 94 left between top wings 54 and 58. The insertion of end 90 into the slot has been found to set up a sufiicient rlgidifying force to counteract lateral stresses tending to distort the united sections from their fixed relationship.

The slide may be finished by bevelling entering edges 88 and 98 to facilitate the movement of the elements into and out'of the slide. Walls 10 may have imparted to it, in additionto the rounded.

formation arising from bending the prongs into position, an additional wedging .formation to assure separating action as the slide moves down upon the elements. l a

It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the: position of the plate, with its shouldered formations I00 I and I02, formed by notches 84 and 86, and introduced within slots 94 and I04 between the separated sections at bottom and top, materially strengthen and brace the entire construction.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular apparatus designed, and in the methods of operation set forth, and in specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific description herein'being merely to illustrate an embodiment which successfully demonstrates the spirit of the invention,

What is claimed as new and useful is:--

' 1. A slide for use in conjunction with a separable Iastener which includes a pair of tapescarrying a plurality of elements to be interlocked and separated, the slide consisting of a pair of initially separate members cooperating to define a channel for receiving the tapes and the ele-;

tion of said means in fixed relation thereto for preventing relative lateral and longitudinal motion of said members.

2. A slide for use in conjunction with a separable fastener which includes a' pair of tapes carfying a plurality of elements to be interlocked and separated, the slide consisting of a pair of initially separate members cooperating to define a channel for receiving the tapes and the elements, and means. engaged by and between the members for maintaining the members in opera- -tive relation to each other, said means having a fixed portion within said channel and said members having initially independent'fixed portions within said channel interconnected with the fixed portion of said means in fixed relation-thereto for preventing relative lateraland longitudinal motion of said members, the maintaining means including means for retaining a'pull-piece for the slide.

3. A slide for use in conjunction with a separable fastener which includes a pair of tapes carrying'a plurality of elements to be interlocked and separated, the slide consisting of a pair of initially separate members cooperating to define a channel for receiving the tapes and the elements, and means engaged by the members for maintaining the members in operative relation.

to each other and dividing the channel, the said means having a fixed portion within said channel and said members having initially independent fixed portions within said channel interconnected with the fixed portion of said means in fixed relation thereto for, preventing relative lateral and longitudinal motion of said members, the maintaining means cooperating with the members to define means for retaining a pullpiece for the slide.

4. A slide for use in conjunction with a separable fastener which includes a pair of tapes carrying a plurality of elements to be interlocked and separated, the slide comprising a pair of initially separate members, each member including a pair of spaced apart wings to define a channel for receiving a tape and its associated elements, and means between and engaged by the members for positioning the wings of the members in co-extensive relationship, said means having a fixed portion within said channel and 'said members having initially independent fixed portions within said channel interconnected with the fixed portion of said means in fixed relation thereto for preventing relative lateral and longitudinal motion of said members.

5. A structure for defining a slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of initially separate members, each of the members including a wall and a pair of wings extending away from the wall to define therewith an individual channel for the passage of elements therethrough, means integral with the wall of one of nels into a single passage for elements from both channels but of less width than the total width of the two separated channels, and means car ried by the wings to guide into overlapping arrangement elements moving into said single passage. J

6. A structure'for defining a slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of initially separate members, each of the members individually defining a 'channel fortthe passage 01' elements therethrough, a plate positioned between the members, means for securing the members together. to retain the platev therebetween, said means having a fixed portion within said channel and said members having fixed portions initially independent of each other positioned within said channel and interconnected with the fixed portion of said means in fixed relation thereto for preventing relative lateral and longitudinal motion of said-members and extensions for each member to define continuations of the channels but of more restricted extent,'the members being secured together so that the channel continuag tions unite and form a single passage for elements from both channels.

'7. A structure for defining a slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of initially separate members, each of the members individually defining a channel for the passage of elements therethrough, a plate positioned between the members, means for securing the members to-' gether to retain the plate therebetween, said means having a fixed portion within said channel and said members having fixed portions initially independent of each other positioned within said channel and interconnected with the fixed portion of said means in fixed relation thereto for preventing relative lateral and longitudinal motion of said members and extensions for each member to define continuations of the channels but of more restricted extent, the members and the plate being secured together and the plate being formed so that the channel continuations unite and form a single passage for elements from both channels.

8. A structure for defining a. slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of initially separate members, each of the members individually defining a channel for the passage of elements therethrough, a plate, and means for securing the members and the plate together to define a single wall separating the channels, said means having a fixed portion within said channel and said members having fixed portions initially independent of each other positioned withinsaid channel and interconnected with the fixed portion of said means in fixed relation thereto for preventing relative lateral and longitudinal motion of said members, the channels being tapered toward one end thereof and the walls being cut away to unite the channels into a single passage of less width than the total width of the two separated channels for elements from both channels, the plate providing means for manipulating the slide.

9. A structure for defining a slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of initially separate members, each of the members individually defining a channel for the passage of elements therethrough, a plate, and means for securing the members and the plate together to define a single wall separating the channels, said means having a fixed portion within said channelandsaid members having fixed portions initially independent of each other positioned within said channel and interconnected with the fixed portion of said means in fixed relation thereto for preventing relative lateral and longitudinal motion of said members, the channels being tapered toward one end thereof and the walls being cut away to unite the channels into a single passage of less width than the total width of the two separated channels for ele ments from both channels, the plate providing means for supporting manipulating means for the slide. i

10. A structure for defining a slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of separate members, each of the members including a wall and a pair of wings extending away from the wall to define an individual channel for the passage of elements therethrough, a plate, means extending from one of the walls andencompassing a portion of the plate and engaging the other wall to secure the walls and the plate together to define a single wall separating the channels, the channels being tapered toward one end thereof and the walls and the plate being cut away to unite the channels into a single passage 11. A structure for defining a slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of separate members, each of the members including a wall and a pair of wings extending away from the wall to define an individual channel for the passage of elements therethrough, a plate, and prongs extending from one of the walls, encompassing a portion of the plate, and engaging the other wall to secure the wall and the plate together to define a single wall separating the channels, the channels being tapered toward one end thereof and the walls and the plate being cut away, to unite the channels into a. single passage of less width than the total width of the two separated channels for elements from both channels.

12. A structure for defining a slide for a separable fastener including a plurality of separable elements, the slide including a pair of separate members, each of the members including a wall and a pair of wings extending away from the wall to define an individual channel for the passage of elements therethrough, said walls being initially independent of each other, a plate, and means extending from one of the walls and encompassing a portion of the plate and engaging the other wall to secure the walls and the plate together to define a single wall separating the channels, the channels being tapered toward one end thereof and the walls and the plate being cut away to unite the channels into a single passage of less width than the total width of the two separated channels for elements from both channels.

13. A slide for use in separating from and bringing into engaged relationship the interlocking elements of a separable fastener, the slider including a pair of initially separate members, each of the members including a pair of wings and a wall, saidwalls being initially independent of each other, the walls being positioned so that the wings of the members extend in opposite directions, a plate positioned between the walls and extending beyond the wings, and plate-and-wall- 15. A slide for use in separating from and bringing into engaged relationship the interlocking elements of a separable fastener, the slider including a pair of separate members, each of the members including a pair of wings and a wall, the walls being positioned so that the wings of the members extend in opposite directions, and

a plate positioned between the walls and extending beyond the wings, one of the walls having prongs extending therefrom, said prongs being extended to engage the other wall for securing the walls and the plate in that relationship.

16; A slide for use in separating from and bringing into engaged relationship the interlocking elements of a separable. fastener, the slider including a pair of separate members, each of the members including a pair of wings and a wall, the walls being positioned so that the wings of the 'members extend in opposite directions, and an L-shaped plate, one arm of the plate being positioned between the walls and the other arm extending beyond the wings, one of the walls having prongs extending therefrom, said prongs being extended to engage the other wall for securing the walls and the plate in that relationship.

17. A slide for use in separating from and bringing into engaged relationship the interlock ing elements of a separable fastener, the slider including a pair of separate members, each of the members including a pair of wings and a wall, the walls beingpositioned so that the wings of the members extend in opposite directions, and an L-shaped plate, one arm of the plate being positioned between the walls and the other, arm extending beyond the wings, the arm positioned between the walls having kerfs formed therein, one of the walls having prongs extending therefrom,

said prongs being extended through the kerfs 1 extending beyond the wings, thearm positioned between the walls having kerfs formed therein, one of the walls having prongs extending therefrom, said prongs being extended to seat inthe kerfs and to engage the other wall for securing the walls and plate in that relationship.

19. A slide for use in separating from and bringing into engaged relationship the interlocking elements of a separable fastener, the sliderincluding a pair of separate members, each of the members including a pair of wings and a wall, the walls being positioned so that the wings of the members extend in opposite directions, and an L-shaped plate, one arm of the plate being positioned between the walls and the other arm extending beyond the wings, the arm extending beyond the wings having a recess formed therein, said recess cooperating with the wing faces to provide means for retaining a bail for the slide, one of the walls having prongs extending therefrom, said prongs being extended to engage'the other wall for securing the walls and the plate in that relationship.

20. A slide for use in separating from and bringing into engaged relationship the interlocking elements of a separable fastener, the slider including a pair of separate members, each of the members including a pair of wings and a wall, the walls being positioned so that the wings -of the members extend in opposite directions,

and an L-shaped plate, one arm of the plate being positioned between the walls and the other arm extending beyond the wings, the arm positioned between the walls having kerfs formed therein, the arm extending beyond the wings having a recess formed therein, said recess cooperating with the wing faces to provide means for retaining a bail for the slide, one of the walls having prongs extending therefrom, said prongs being extended through the kerfs and engaging the other wall for securing the walls and plate in that relationship.

21. A slide for use in separating from and bringing into engaged relationship the interlocking elements of a separable fastener, the slider including a'pair of separate members, each of the members including a pair of wings and a wall, the walls being positioned so that the wings of the members extend in opposite directions, and an L-shaped plate, one arm of the plate being positioned between the walls and the other arm extending beyond the wings, the arm positioned between the walls having kerfs formed therein, the

, arm extending beyond the wings having a recess formed therein, said recess cooperating with the 

